10 Country Patriotic Songs

These 10 Country Patriotic Songs are sure to make you want to raise a flag, eat some apple pie, watch some baseball and wave a flag from your front porch. Not just for the 4th of July, these songs will make you feel proud to be an American any time of year.

"God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood – No contest, this song had to make the list. Possibly one of the most easily recognizable patriotic country songs in the known universe, this song never fails to bring crowds to their feet and make Mamas of soldiers everywhere misty-eyed by the ending chord. Heck, even those of us who aren't military Moms can't help but tear up a little.

"If You're Reading This" by Tim McGraw – Written as a soldier's final letter, "If You're Reading This" is a real tribute to solders lost in the line of duty, our true fallen heroes. This song brings to mind the families that are left behind when a soldier is deployed–and regrettably, when a soldier dies.

"Arlington" by Trace Adkins – This one's told from the perspective of a fallen soldier on his way to be buried in Arlington. It's not just the song that has the great story here–rumor has it that when a few military families had a hard time with the song, Adkins had his label stop promoting the song to spare the families any upset.

"Some Gave All by Billy Ray Cyrus" – This song was intended as a tribute to veterans in general, but ended up being adopted by the rescue workers at ground zero after 9/11. Many of them got tattoos with the song title in memory of their lost friends.

"Ragged Old Flag" by Johnny Cash – Told in defense of a flag battered and beaten by weather and time, "Ragged Old Flag" tells the history of our country through the filter of military activity. From the war-torn beginning of our nation through World War II, this song illustrates the durability of the flag, and the country.

"Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" by Alan Jackson – It's been a recurring question since 9/11–where were you when you first heard about the tragic events of September 11? For those of us who were old enough to pay attention, it's a day that we'll remember regardless of what we were doing.

"Have You Forgotten" by Darryl Worley – Another 9/11 tribute song, this one was written in response to a perceived shifting in national attitude post 9/11. Worley wrote the song with his friend to remind the listening population what we were fighting for.

"Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly" by Aaron Tippin – Like so many patriotic country songs, this one was released after the 9/11 attack. What people don't know, though, is that this song was written several years before the attack, and all proceeds from this song are donated to the Red Cross.

"American Soldier" by Toby Keith – This isn't the kind of song we've come to expect from Keith-it's a quieter, more subtly strong tune than he usually records. It's simply the story of a soldier, a husband and a father, doing his best to do his job. Not an overtly angry song like other of Keith's patriotic tunes, this one makes soldiers relatable, brings a human face to what we collectively refer to as "the troops".

"Bumper of My SUV" by Cheley Wright – Wright comes by her patriotism naturally, her father, brother and grandfather all Marines. She wrote this song in response to a rude gesture she received due to the Marine bumper sticker on her vehicle. Wright's a known patriot–she frequently does USO tours and is a strong military supporter.